With enthusiasm and commitment, the EDUCAR Network has taken the first step in the implementation of the certification of Excellence MELIORa project that
seeks to strengthen the Augustinian Recollect identity in the educational centers through a rigorous process of self-evaluation and improvement, focusing on the living of the charism. The Fray Luis de Leon School of Queretaro (Mexico) has been the starting point of this initiative that already involves six other schools of the network.
Antonio Carrón General Councilor of the Order and President of the EDUCAR Network, explained the origin and scope of the certification: “We have initiated the process of Melior certification in the educational centers of the Educar Network, precisely here, in the Colegio Fray Luis de León de Querétaro, in Mexico, and there are six educational centers that at this moment 
are in this process”. The certification arises as an evolution of the MEGCAR, a model to evaluate the Augustinian Recollect charism, and was agreed upon during the last EDUCAR Meeting in Guatemala as a way to consolidate the efforts of institutional improvement.
MELIOR, from the Latin melioratio, used by Saint Augustine, represents an ideal of constant growth, in line with the charism of knowing oneself, accepting oneself and surpassing oneself. The process includes stages such as self-evaluation, the formulation of improvement commitments and the evaluation of external peers, culminating in the possible award of the certificate of excellence.
José Miguel Hernández, member of the evaluation team and pedagogical director of the Centro San Agustín in Motril (Spain), shared his experience after evaluating the 
Colegio Fray Luis de León in Mexico: “The truth is that the experience has been very enriching. The team is involved in making known what they do and they do it with pleasure, joy and passion”. He added that the official visit lasts three days and allows a deep knowledge of the center through tours, interviews with the educational community and documentary review.
From the point of view of the evaluated centers themselves, the process has been a valuable opportunity to consolidate identity and strengthen processes. Mª del Consuelo Altamirano, general director of Colegio Fray Luis de León, pointed out: “Compiling all the documents helped us to structure ourselves, to see if in all the sections we were working in the same way or not… to evaluate ourselves if we are really transmitting the Augustinian Recollect charism”.
For its part, Fr. Germán MarquínezThe headmaster of Fray Luis de León School, valued the networking and the shared experience: “I really enjoyed sharing their activities and projects with other schools. Networking has helped us a lot… we realize that we are not alone”.
The objective of MELIOR is not only to obtain a certificate, but to promote a continuous process of improvement based on the Augustinian Recollect charism. As Fr. Antonio Carrón expressed: “From this first experience, we want to encourage all the educational centers of the Augustinian Recollect family to immerse themselves in this experience… which makes us all a family and an educational network”.
This first step confirms that MELIOR is not only a certification, but a path of educational and spiritual transformation. The EDUCAR Network is moving forward united, with identity and hope, towards an excellence that is not imposed, but built in community.